30 October 2008
Boyle welcomes retention of disability allowance for 16 and 17 year olds
Green Party Social Welfare spokesperson Senator Dan Boyle has welcomed today's announcement that the proposal to raise the age limit for the disability allowance from 16 to 18 will not go ahead.
Welcoming comments made by Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanifin today, Senator Boyle said: "I am delighted that the Minister has seen fit to accept the argument that those currently in receipt of the allowance who are under 18 years of age should continue to receive that payment."
The allowance will continue pending a full review of the scheme in conjunction with those working with and representing people with disabilities in Ireland.
20 October 2008
Boyle welcomes rethink on income levy
Green Party Chairperson and spokesperson on Finance Senator Dan Boyle has welcomed comments made last night by the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan on RTE's The Week in Politics programme, that there could be some movement on how the income levy, introduced in last week's Budget, is to be applied.
Senator Boyle said: "The Green Party is supportive of changes that will see the introduction of a threshold under which people will not have to pay the levy, and the lowering of the limit at which the two percent levy would come in. We believe that these changes will make the levy more progressive, and thus fairer on lower income households."
14 October 2008
Gormley welcomes measured budget in difficult times
Protecting the vulnerable, the economy and the environment were key priorities, says Green Leader
Green Party Leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley TD welcomed the publication of the budget today. He said: "Today's budget will help to equip Ireland to meet the significant economic, social and environmental challenges that lie ahead of us. It was well flagged that this would be a very difficult budget, but great attempts have been made to ensure that equity is preserved, particularly in the area of taxation changes. The Green Party in Government has ensured that the most vulnerable people in our society are protected.
"We also guaranteed the introduction of measures to address the key issues of public transport, energy efficiency, carbon emissions and environmental protection. In particular, I am happy that funding for water and sewage projects has increased by 19 per cent to ensure that everybody has access to a clean water supply. I have further safeguarded local government funding of public services through a levy on second homes and motor tax increases.
"Tomorrow I will deliver a 'carbon budget' outlining progress made since the last budget and the steps that the Government will take in 2009 to tackle climate change. The Minister for Finance clearly stated today that a revenue neutral carbon levy will be introduced in next year's budget once the Commission on Taxation reports. This a very significant step."
Finance Spokesperson Senator Dan Boyle added: "In straitened times the Green Party has safeguarded the funding of public transport projects including Metro North, the Dublin interconnector, the extension of the two Luas lines to Cherrywood and the Point, and the Cork-to-Middleton rail line.
"The Government has also increased fuel allowances, welfare payments, the health budget and the school building programme, and this is to be welcomed. I am happy too that the equality agency and human rights agency will retain their independence.
"Increases in the rate of Capital Gains Tax are in line with the principle that people should pay the same effective tax on capital as they do on their income. Efforts to standardise many tax reliefs means that all taxpayers claiming such reliefs will be doing so on an equal basis.
"The Government has committed to spending 0.56% of GNP on overseas development assistance in 2009 and is on target to meet its Millennium Development Goal target of 0.7% by 2012. The Green Party worked hard to ensure this commitment."
"At a local level I am pleased to see moves towards a tax relief for Seveso listed industrial facilities located in port areas. This relief is an important signal of Government interest in developing the Cork Docklands project," concluded Senator Boyle.
5 October 2008
Greens to discuss banking crisis and Lisbon with EU Presidency in Paris
The Green Party's spokespersons on Finance and European Affairs will travel to Paris this week to discuss the crisis in the international financial sector and the future of the Lisbon treaty with the French Presidency of the European Union and Green politicians from across Europe.
Party Chairperson Senator Dan Boyle and European Affairs spokesperson Senator Deirdre de Burca will participate in the European Green Party's biannual Council Meeting, which is also being addressed by Bernard Kouchner, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Michel Barnier, French Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, French Secretary of State for Ecology.
The Meeting takes place in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil from 9-11 October, and is hosted by the former French Environment Minister and current Mayor of Montreuil Senator Dominique Voynet, and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament.
Having launched the first pan-European election campaign in Rome in 2004, the European Greens will discuss progress in preparations for the common campaign in next June's European elections. Delegates will also hear about how the French Greens are building alliances with NGOs and civil society ahead of next year's vote.
Í®grid Betancourt, the former Colombian Green Party Senator and anti-corruption activist, who was rescued from FARC gorillas in July after spending six and a half years in captivity, is due to speak on Saturday, while José ‚ové¬ the famous French farmer and anti globalization activist will participate on Friday ? alongside the French Agriculture Minister and former EU Commissions Michel Barnier ? in a session that deals with food security and GMOs. Other discussion topics include: the EU's energy and climate change package; capitalism's first socio-ecological crisis; human rights and European foreign policy; and migration and integration.
